Curious Iowa: Who decorates the I-380 Christmas trees in Cedar Rapids?

For more than 20 years, a small evergreen tree along I-380 heading north toward Cedar Rapids has been decked in holiday decorations annually. A second tree, located along I-380 headed south, was added through the years.

For Cedar Rapids residents, the tree is a landmark. A symbol that they’re nearing home. But the story of why it is decorated is unknown to most.

Elizabeth Barnes, of Cedar Rapids, asked Curious Iowa, a series from The Gazette that answers readers’ questions about our state, its people and culture, to find out the story behind the I-380 Christmas trees.

Who decorated the I-380 Christmas trees and why?

In 2001, Laura G. Gilmore, known as “Sis” to family and friends, set out to spread joy following the Sept. 11 attacks. The idea came during a time when Gilmore and her niece Jenny Lenhardt were commuting to Iowa City from Cedar Rapids for work.

“What happened was tragic and it was on a lot of people’s minds for a long time,” Gail Martens, Gilmore’s sister, said. “So she just wanted to make people smile.”

“She said, you know, I think we need to do something to lighten the souls of the weary travelers … and so she spotted that tree,” Lenhardt said. “She said, I think we should decorate that tree and then that’s how it happened and then it was every year after that.”

“That one’s kind of perfect because it’s right before you hit the ‘Welcome to Cedar Rapids’ sign and it’s not too far back off the road that you can’t see it, but … you’re not going to be driving by and some Christmas decoration’s gonna stick to the windshield or something,” Lenhardt said about how Gilmore chose the specific tree.

Gilmore died in August after recently being diagnosed with colon cancer. She is remembered by loved ones as being creative, sassy and “incredibly generous.”

“She made friends wherever she was at,” Lauren Morgan, Gilmore’s niece, said.

“She loved life,” Ann Morrow, Gilmore’s aunt, said. “(She was) a free spirit.”

“The best way to describe her really is magic,” Haley Willett, Gilmore’s niece, said. “There’s really just nobody like her.”

The first year, Gilmore and Lenhardt decorated the tree after work using a small step ladder. Lenhardt remembers pulling over on the side of the interstate with Gilmore and cars honking as they drove by.

“We were surprised that they could even see us because it was dark,” she said.

“I think we kind of had to tie stuff around the branches. And, I mean, it definitely progressed to being like a bunch of tools that would come with.”

One year, three trees were decorated. Over time, the southbound tree was added. The annual tradition ended at Playtime Tap where Gilmore would enjoy pizza, beer and TouchTunes with whoever came to decorate with her.

“One year, we stopped in there afterwards and we’re talking about it and there was a guy in there and he just happened to have a bunch of Christmas decorations with him,” Lenhardt said. “Like some big, beautiful string of beads with gold detailing on them. So he gave us all this stuff for the next year. I actually still have part of that string.”

In 2004, Gilmore’s partner, Mike Farr, handmade the first star to top the tree. Gilmore bought new tree trimmings annually, replacing sun bleached decorations. Farr even developed a way to light the tree using solar panels.

“We got pretty good at wiring this stuff on and then bringing wire cutters out the next year to cut it off,” Lenhardt said.

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Surprisingly, Christmas was not Gilmore’s favorite holiday. It was Halloween — though her dedication to decorating the I-380 trees carried through even during the spookiest time of year.

“She dressed up like a Christmas tree at Halloween,” Morrow said.

Why was the tree not destroyed during recent road work?

As the ongoing I-380 Corridor reconstruction and widening project took shape, trees in the area of Gilmore’s northbound Christmas tree were cut down. There was concern that Gilmore’s tree would be removed.

“Somebody had posted something on Reddit about it and I took a screenshot and sent it to her … and she said they had cut it down,” Lehnhardt said.

Gilmore posted a picture on Facebook of the northbound Christmas tree — small and faded in the center of the shot — surrounded by large piles of dirt. She commented,

“If you look real close you can barely see it! For 24 years we’ve decorated a small tree on the side of the road each Christmas. It wasn’t grand or flashy. Just a quiet gesture, a bit of light for those passing by. We did it to bring a little peace, a little joy to people on their way somewhere else. The tree is gone now — cut down in the name of progress. But we hope in some small way it made the road a little kinder and we hope it made someone smile when they needed it most. That’s all we ever wanted!! Thanks to everyone who helped.”

Thankfully, the tree was not cut down.

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Iowa DOT policy does not allow roadside memorials, signs or anything that doesn’t belong directly to the function of the road, Ben Hucker, assistant state maintenance engineer, told The Gazette.

Adam Kos, project manager for CJ Monya & Sons, said that if the roadway had been planned differently, they might have been forced to remove the tree.

"Fortunately, the new designs for the roadway allow it to be able to be there," Kos said.

The crew didn't know the background story of the Christmas tree, but Kos said they were familiar with the tree from living and working in the area.

Gilmore’s family is touched that the tree was spared and that they will be able to continue the tradition.

“When it stayed, and it was shown that it was still here, she was so happy. She cried, she rejoiced and it just was really important to her and, in turn, it made it very important for us,” Morgan said.

Who will carry on the tradition?

While she was in the hospital, Gilmore asked Willett to carry on the tree decorating tradition. Willett, who loves Christmas, said it was an honor.

The tree has taken on a different meaning for Willett since her aunt died.

“It definitely just brings a sense of even though you’re not here, you’re still here. The essence of her lives on,” Willett said.

When Martens drives by, she said, “I smile, the weary traveler I am.”

“Yeah, she’s never gonna leave us. We can’t get rid of her if we try,” Morrow added. She described a technical error that happened while she was working on a video for Gilmore’s celebration of life.

“I looked up and I’m like, Sis!” Morrow said. “Because she told me, ‘I’m going to come back and I’m going to mess with you.’”

While flipping through a family photo album dedicated to photos of Gilmore’s I-380 Christmas trees, Morrow pointed out how the original tree has grown taller over the years.

“That’s why we had to start bringing a ladder with us,” Lenhardt said. “At first, we just had the step stool from work or whatever. There was one year where the top probably quarter of it wasn’t decorated because we weren’t tall enough and we didn’t have a ladder with us,” Lenhardt said.

Though taller, the tree has browned in spots.

“We were like, we should come out here during the summertime and bring it some food … because this thing is not doing well,” Lenhardt said.

Gilmore’s family said that if the tree dies, they would find another to continue the tradition.

“She didn’t want any recognition,” Morgan said. “but now that she’s gone, we want her to be recognized for it and get the praise she deserved.”

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This year, the family decorated the tree with the word “Sis,” angel wings and an ornament with Gilmore’s photo in it. Morrow spread some of Gilmore’s ashes by the tree, saying, “Sis, thank you for this tree. Merry Christmas.”

“She is such a beautiful person and a beautiful spirit, and this is just a testament to her,” Morgan said. “And so being able to do this on her behalf and continue to do it on her behalf is — there's just no words for it. It's just beautiful.”

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